What do you think about Floyd Patterson?

Yeah he's in that neighborhood you mentioned at the end there.

 

Floyd was definitely a scared and beaten man before he entered the ring against Liston the first time. If his head was screwed on straight and his back wasn't flaring up, he gives Liston a tougher battle than what he showed in the two fights against him. It surprises me that a man Ali called "the most skillful as a boxer," with arguably faster hands, couldn't do anything against Liston. Patterson was also very fast on his feet but his footwork seemed absent against Liston.

Nearly all the people I've encountered, mostly seniors who've been lucky to have met Floyd Patterson in his lifetime are quick to say that he was truly one of the nicest, well-mannered and well-spoken of all the heavyweight champions. I'd like to think that a prime Floyd Patterson without the back problems and the confidence issues could have done much better against Ali and Sonny Liston. The fight with George Chuvalo was close and some have made a case for Chuvalo winning that fight, but it was a memorable contest no doubt.

 

His hands were as fast as any Heavyweight in history. He had a very good left hook, if you saw the 2nd Ingo bout, you would know what I am talking about.

He was rated in the Top 10 by Ring Magazine from August 1953 to August 1973 for a total of 213 months. He fought 23 different opponents a total of 32 times, that were rated in the top 10 at one time or another in his 64 bouts. That's 50%, just to give you an idea, Marciano fought only 13 different opponents 16 times, out of 49 bouts, 32.65%.

I met Patterson back in 1981. I sat next to him at a New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame affair and we spoke over 4 hours. What a nice guy!

I am the President of the Hall of Fame right now, but back then, Mario J. Centi was, and he called on Floyd to present an award to one of the honorees and Patterson turned to me and asked, what do I say. I quickly took him a side and told him and he went up their and did a great job. When he sat down next to me again, he thanked me. I felt so good doing something for one of the nicest guys I have ever met.

 

great post,i always feel sick when i hear about the **** he got from sinatra because he lost to liston

 

couldn't agree more

 

He was great alway felt Cus moved him up becuase of a gap left by Rocky. He is top 15 heavy for me and one of my peronal favourites.

 

Itr was all the media pressure that got to Floyd ,and there was nothing wrong with his back against Liston in either fight.Patterson was NOT noted for his footwork at all.Fighters who boxed on the retreat gave Liston problems not crouching swarmers,like Floyd.
Patterson's reign was rather undistinguished he avoided Folley and Machen as well as Williams ,but his career after he lost the title was very respectable imo ,he had a good extended career and was one of the sports Gentlemen ,with a capital G,imo.

 

what about sinatra?

 

Patterson was not known for his footwork? His hands and feet were almost hand in hand in terms of applying the peak-a-boo style with any concerted success. You need good feet to be able to circle with the jab and you need good feet to pressure the opponent. Patterson was definitely not absent of footwork. Watching Tyson adopting a fair amount of Patterson's style which was taught by D'Amato gives testament that footwork is important in that style. I will agree with you though that Floyd was more of a swarmer, but according to the "Greatest," and other fighters of that era, Floyd was better than good at standing up and firing combinations with his quick hands. I could be totally wrong and maybe I've misread some information about him, but Floyd's back problems were chronic from his Olympic days and I'm not so sure he was in tip-top condition against Liston.

 

First of all Patterson was the fastest heavyweight I have ever seen. Ali claims to be but Floyd was faster. Oddly Floyd fought and beat tougher competition after his title reign than before and during it ... he was a great fighter and definately a top ten in the 200 lbs and under class of guys ...

 

Look at his record. It's outstanding.